Zimbabwe Travel Guide

Bush camps in Hwange National Park were everything I'd hoped for

I spent four days at two bush camps--Camp Hwange and Hwange Bush Camp, two nights at each. They were both extremely well-run
and had excellent guides. These are small-group experiences. Each accommodates only about a dozen guests at a time. Some of my
days I was the only guest. The most other people that joined me on any vehicle or walking safari was a family of four. Our guides were
exceptional. Twice, once at each camp, we were led on foot to close encounters with elephants from a safe vantage point. One brought
us to within 10 feet of one. We saw lion cubs, a male lion, and three females at Hwange Bush Camp. I saw a serval cat on a night safari at
Camp Hwange. I wrote down all the other species we saw, and there were more than 20. The food at each camp was virtually the same, and very high-end. The weather throughout was mostly sunny and dry.
Each camp is about 4-1/2 hours by good van and safari "jeep" from Victoria Falls, so you feel well away from everything. I couldn't have been more pleased.
Now, as to Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe generally: Bring all of the cash that you will need in small-denomination U.S. dollars. Don't use your cards in any ATM machines. Most hotels and restaurants accept U.S. credit cards. The ticket office at the Falls will give you change in U.S. dollars; but any other place you spend U.S. dollars you will probably get change in local bond coins, which are useless to us--which is the reason you want small denominations--1s and 5s are best.
I also visited Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, and found it a very comfortable city. Once you solve the money problem, it's a great place to visit. People are very friendly.

City and Bush, Birding and Boating -- Zimbabwe Had It All!

From the time we arrived in Zimbabwe, my wife and I had nothing to plan or deliberate during our entire stay. All transportation was prompt, clean, and courteous. We enjoyed a sunset cruise down the Zambezi in Vic Falls, lunch at the gorge, and drinks at the bar at Bayete. Zambezi Sands was AMAZING and truly felt remote while also luxe. We enjoyed plenty of gin and tonic sundowners, a brief pontoon boat trip, many game drives with plenty of wildlife, and the real highlight was kayaking the mighty Zambezi River. We'll never forget being that close to hippos and crocs and the one section of rapids was a rush. Dinner was phenomenal, John and the staff were incredible hosts, and the nighttime campfires made us feel right at home with other guests we'd just met.

Wonderful Experience, wonderful guide, wonderful staff, wonderful accommodation.

Everything we expected and more, especially our guide Leo who was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. Weather was a bit wet, but it was the rainy season, and our guide was prepared. Food was great as was the camp staff.

Zimbabwe is amazing! The people are warm, friendly, hospitable, and also professional.

We visited Harare, Vic Falls and Hwange National Park.

In Harare we stayed four nights in probably the best B&B we have ever stayed in. The Victoria Falls are of course magnificent.

The Wildlife in Hwange is abundant, including the big five (apart from Rhinos), and the little five. Our guides were incredibly passionate and professional. Walking safaris are highly recommended. Nothing beats being up close and personal with the animals and the bush. The sweet smell of true savannah grassland is something I have not experienced anywhere else, nor will I forget the pungent smell of a hyena den.

The standard of accommodation and service in both camps (Bomani and Camp Hwange) was exceptional. All staff worked really hard to make us feel valued and welcome. It still confounds me how these camps manage to create restaurant quality meals with the freshest ingredients in the middle of the bush.

All our transfers were spot on. The hire car pick up at Harare International Airport was the easiest least stressful pick up EVER! The best transfer in the world has got to be the Elephant Express! A restored open air railway carriage, which transfers guests from Dete siding to Bomani/Camelthorn camps along the main Zimbabwe railway line. We were served a delicious lunch and saw as much game in 2 hours as any of the game drives; lion, zebra, giraffe, sable to name a few.

Please don't be put off visiting this wonderful country by negative media stories. The normal everyday Zimbabweanz are probably the friendliest most hospitable people in the world. You arrive as guests but leave as friends.

The animals were amazing (especially the elephant container) and staying at Jozi camp was perfect!

The food for this trip was wonderful. All the staff were so helpful. Gorges Lodge, Bomani Lodge and Jozi camp were perfect! The only thing that was not great was the ride from Gorges to Bomani and Bomain back to Victoria Falls. Suzanne was ssoooooo helpful!

Victoria Falls and safarias make Zimbabwe a wonderful vacation destination !We

We enjoyed very nice tour guides at Victoria Falls! We were there during the dry season, but Falls were still not to be missed! The weather was quite warm in September making the walking tour a challenge for my husband, but we were very comfortable in our accommodations at Stanley and Livingstone. The lodge itself was rather posh, with beautiful wood furnishings. Food was delicious with several choices each night and staff was very nice!

In Hwange, accommodations were not too opulent nor too rustic. We stayed at the Ivory Lodge. It had a safari “feel” with all needed amenities in our private building overlooking a watering hole. We sat on our deck to watch wild animals come out of the bush to drink. We felt as though the staff’s only priority was to be sure our needs were met and that we had a great time. It was not “just a job” to them. They went above and beyond. The camp director, Jamie is indeed a special hostess I hated to say goodbye to.
Safari guides shared their vast knowledge of the bush and wildlife with us. They tracked the animals and communicated with each other to give us the best viewing possible. We especially liked Jeb.
Food was very good and my special dietary needs have never been catered to as well as at The Ivory Lodge.
Everything was perfect, except we would have liked to have seen more cats. The bush however is not a zoo!

Zimbabwe was amazing, wild and beautiful.

The wildlife is plentiful and so beautiful. I loved seeing them in their natural habitat and the water holes are incredible to watch from the elevated viewing platform.
The scenery is unbeatable, especially Victoria Falls.
The weather was hot, but tolerable. No rain unless you count the Falls.
Take a helicopter ride over the Falls, so worth it.

Go to Zimbabwe it's wonderful

Amazing. We went to Mana Pools, had 3 days canoeing down the Zambezi then on to Hwange National Park finishing at Victoria Falls for a couple of days. Wildlife and birds - wonderful and so varied. The camps clean and food amazing. All staff were obviously happy in their work and the guides so informative - how do they spot so much. And of course Victoria Falls, one of the wonders of the world - enough said.

Our only experience is Hwange NP and Vic Falls, but both of these were excellent and I understand the guiding to be of high quality throughout the country.

Zimbabwe has outstanding wildlife. The scenery is varied,and just lovely. The guides are the best trained in Africa. It also offers an outstanding bush vibe.